The CT State Department of Education is partnering with the Department of Economic and Community Development to publish a CT State of the Arts Report in 2015. To that end, the new Education Consultant for the Arts, Jackie Coleman, is preparing to collect data for this report and is asking schools to complete an arts survey. The information gathered in the survey will help to define strategies for supporting arts learning for all Connecticut students.

The next - and final - session of the CCSS Leadership Community of Practice Series will be held on Monday, May 11, 2015, at the CAS Office. The Connecticut Core State Standards (CCSS) have accentuated the need for students to develop the skill of close reading that involves thoroughly analyzing and evaluating texts while reading. This session will provide administrators with background information on what is expected for student achievement with the CCSS in the area of close reading. We will examine the selection of appropriately complex texts, the steps in the process of close reading, the creation of text-dependent questions, and demonstration activities to share how close reading supports readers as they focus on the structure, language, and content of text. There is no charge to attend this workshop.

"CAS Administrators' Talk" is a discussion group which allows school administrators to pose questions to their colleagues and have online exchanges on issues directly related to their positions. A number of helpful questions and answers have already been posted on topics such as standards-based report cards, alternating day block schedules and middle school advisory programs. The forum is relatively new and our participation numbers are still low, so join now. The more people who participate, the better the conversations will be!

Please join us on Thursday, June 4th, for an in-depth look at the elements of effective pre-K-3 programs. This forum will introduce principals and school leaders to the Competencies for Effective Principal Practice published by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Participants will review the competencies, discuss implementation strategies, and focus on developing a personalized plan for their school.

CAS, in conjunction with ReVision Learning, is offering a free workshop to CAS members: DISC Leadership: Leveraging Understanding of Self and Others for Improved Performance. Workshop participants will receive an analysis of their leadership styles by completing the short online DISC survey. Using their analyses, participants will delve into the dimensions of their leadership and communication patterns and examine how they interact with others. This workshop is sponsored by the CT State Department of Education. Materials and meals will be included at no cost.

On Tuesday, May 12th, the CT State Department of Education and the Office of Early Childhood are co-sponsoring a half-day symposium for kindergarten teachers, elementary school principals, superintendents and central office administrators. Participants will hear from national experts on early childhood development and assessment and learn about Connecticut’s recent work toward a revised Kindergarten Entrance Inventory.

The National Spirit of Sport Award is one of the most prestigious honors bestowed by the National Federation of State High School Associations. This year, Daniel Hand High School student Grace Cummings has been chosen to receive this incredible distinction. Her story is remarkable and serves as inspiration and a reminder of why we are all involved with interscholastic athletics.

School Law is a website published by Shipman & Goodwin LLP that tracks emerging school law issues and keeps visitors informed of recent education-related court decisions. Visit the newly re-designed site at ctschoollaw.com!

The Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut is offering a new certificate program to help school leaders improve the learning of students in PreK through grade 3. The Connecticut PK-3 Leadership Program has been specifically created to help school principals, central office and other administrators, lead teachers, community directors and superintendents acquire new skills to build quality early childhood education programs in their school districts.

The Legal Mailbag column is written by Attorney Thomas Mooney of the University of Connecticut's Neag School of Education. Readers are invited to submit short, law-related questions of practical concern to school administrators. One question and its answer will be published in this column each week. Questions may be edited; authors will not be identified; and answers cannot be considered formal legal advice. Please submit questions to: legalmailbag@casciac.org

Dear Legal Mailbag:About three months ago, I appointed a committee of teachers and parents to make recommendations on the amount of homework that teachers should assign each day. Actually, I was quite proud of myself for thinking of this collaborative approach to a thorny issue. The committee worked well, and the other day it prepared its recommended homework guidelines in draft form. I had some concerns with the recommendations, and I asked the committee to revise the guidelines. However, now I am being hounded by the reporter for the local newspaper for a copy of the draft guidelines.